RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. and Arab leaders are expressing concerns that the resumption of talks could be the last chance for a ceasefire and the release of hostages before war erupts with a threat of Israeli attack on the town of Rafah, the southernmost town of Gaza.
As Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Arab leaders in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Monday, there were urgent calls for a deal between Israel and Hamas that would avert an attack on Rafah, where more than a million people are taking refuge.
Blinken’s visit comes after President Joe Biden reiterated U.S. opposition to an operation in Rafah on Sunday during a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
U.S. officials do not believe Israel is ready to launch a full-scale ground incursion into Rafah, providing a crucial window to reach a truce deal and the release of hostages still held by Hamas, two people told NBC News close to the American position. .
The diplomatic push comes as protests against Israel’s actions rock college campuses across the United States and as Israel fears its leaders could soon face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court.
Blinken, speaking from Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, said the ceasefire proposal handed to Hamas by mediators from Qatar and Egypt was “extraordinarily generous.” He added that Hamas needed to “make a decision quickly” regarding the offer and that he was “hopeful that they will make the right decision.”
An Israeli official and an Arab diplomat familiar with the negotiations told NBC News that the deal on the table would see 33 hostages released initially in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and the release of Palestinian prisoners.
The freed captives would consist of women, children, the elderly and those with serious health problems, the official said, adding that previous discussions had focused on a deal for 40 hostages, but Hamas indicated that he might not have 40 live hostages. which meet these criteria.
Israeli officials have previously said 133 hostages remain in Gaza, although 34 are believed to be dead.
In a significant softening of Israel’s position, senior administration officials and Arab diplomats said Israel had indicated for the first time that it would agree to a lasting ceasefire lasting more than six weeks, as proposed by the United States.
And two senior officials, as well as an Arab diplomat, said it all rested on Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, seen by all sides as underground in the terrorist organization’s network of tunnels.
A Hamas political leader told NBC News: “The new proposal is a positive development, but it is too early to be optimistic. »
The Hamas leader said that because of the group’s long experience with the Israeli government, they “can only be sure at the last moment.”
The leader added that “some issues require in-depth negotiations and clear confirmation.”
The talks had been deadlocked for weeks, but U.S. officials said they were encouraged by Hamas’ release of two videos showing evidence of the lives of three captives, which could indicate interest in activist group to reach a deal.
“If the hostages are not released quickly, there will be no way to hold the Israelis in Rafah,” an Arab diplomat involved in the talks told NBC News exclusively on Monday. “An attack on Rafah would give Sinwar the support he needs to destroy Israel. »
If a ceasefire becomes effective and a deal is reached to free the remaining hostages, U.S. officials say Netanyahu, who is under increasing pressure at home to secure their freedom, would have a harder time resuming major military operations in Gaza. two sources said.
Numerous protests have taken place in Israel calling on Netanyahu and his government to do more to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
But the Israeli government seems divided on this proposal in recent days.
Right-wing members of Netanyahu’s cabinet voiced opposition, saying Israel should focus on the Rafah attack, and threatened to leave the government if the deal was reached. More moderate members, including War Minister Benny Gantz, said a hostage deal was more urgent than an offensive in Rafah.
Netanyahu has repeatedly signaled his intention to launch a full-scale ground invasion on the city where he says many remaining Hamas militants have holed up.
Blinken – who is on his seventh trip to the Middle East since the war between Israel and Hamas began in October – told Arab officials on Monday that the best way to ease the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza would be to reach a deal ceasefire to free the hostages.
“The most effective way to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, to alleviate the suffering of children, women and men and to create space for a fairer and more lasting solution is to achieve a ceasefire. fire and evacuate the hostages,” he said. at the Gulf Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers in Riyadh.
Toward a hostage deal and a temporary ceasefire that could be extended is the main goal of Blinken’s trip, U.S. officials said.
They added that Blinken would meet with Egyptian and Qatari officials at the forum. Both countries have been pushing for a truce in Gaza and a high-level Egyptian delegation visited Israel last week to discuss an extended ceasefire.
Blinken will then travel to Jordan and Israel.
The United States also continues to seek a broader deal that would involve normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, a path to an independent Palestinian state and a plan to rebuild Gaza, U.S. officials said.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, who is also attending the forum, said Monday that the most “important thing now is to avoid an attack on Rafah” because it would be “catastrophic.”
Rafah is the main entry point for desperately needed Egyptian aid, particularly concerned by the war spreading to its borders. Madbouly added that there had been progress but there were still “fundamental issues” on both sides that needed to be resolved. “There has to be compromise on both sides,” he said.
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan also told the forum that “cool-headed countries, leaders and people must prevail.” He added that the region needed “stability”.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army continued to bombard Rafah from the air over the weekend. Palestinian health officials said at least 22 people, including six women and five children, were killed.
Andrea Mitchell and Keir Simmons reported from Riyadh and Raf Sanchez reported from Tel Aviv.
